'Lopes Win Big in Regular Season Home Opener

Saturday, November 16

GCU Arena

7 p.m.

Grand Canyon

1-2

Western New Mexico

0-1

Western New Mexico

Grand Canyon

Demetrius Walker

Photo by: Darryl Webb

11/16/2013 9:10:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Four Antelopes record career-highs in victory

On a night marked by career-setting performances, the Grand Canyon University men's basketball team won in convincing fashion, 91-41, over Western New Mexico in the Antelopes' regular season home opener tonight at GCU Arena in front of their second consecutive sellout crowd. The win was the first of the season for GCU and the first collegiate victory for Dan Majerle as a head coach.

The margin of victory for the 'Lopes was its largest since posting a 63-point win on Jan. 11, 2007 against Southwestern College (now Arizona Christian). The 91 points were the most scored by the 'Lopes since totaling 105 on Feb. 14, 2013 at Academy of Art.

"The guys played hard tonight," said Majerle. "This was a win that we should have got and we got it. We jumped on them early and built a nice lead, but what I'm really proud of is that they played hard the whole game. This is a good win for our team."

Leading the long list of GCU players to establish career-highs was Demetrius Walker, who recorded his first-career 20-point game, finishing with 21 to surpass his previous-high of 19 points, which he had done for the third time in GCU's last game against San Diego on Nov. 9.

Jeremy Adams had a career-best 14 points, surpassing his previous high of 10, which he set with Colorado on Jan. 26, 2012 at USC.

Blake Davis (13) and Justin Foreman (8) both established career-highs in rebounds, while Killian Larson had his second double-double of the young season with 18 points and 14 rebounds. The 18 points tied Larson's season-high, which he also did on Nov. 8 versus Loyola Marymount. Davis added 12 points for his first double-double of his senior campaign.

"I'm just trying to do what I can for the team," said Larson. "The whole week leading up to this game, we knew it was going to be a big game. We needed to make sure we were ready, and I think it showed. I just want to come in and do my job every game."

Off the bench, GCU was aided by Akachi Okugo's season-best nine point performance.

The 'Lopes posted their best field goal percentage so far this season at 51.7 percent (30-for-58), including a 56.3 percentage (18-for-32) in the final 20 minutes, as four GCU players scored in double figures.

"We have to get better everytime we step on the floor, and we have to keep improving and running our stuff," added Majerle. "Demetrius has to know what is a good shot and what isn't because he is a talented scorer. He has the ability to make everybody else better. And Jeremy is so big, strong, and fast, he can get in the lane anytime he wants. I was happy that two of our seniors, Killian and Blake, played so well. Killian is going to be big for us all year and Blake just plays hard every game."

The 'Lopes opened the game to an 8-3 advantage in the first four minutes before the Mustangs closed that gap to two on a Chad Arechiga three-pointer at the 15:52 mark, the closest they would come in the contest.

An Adams layup with 5:17 to play handed the 'Lopes their first double-digit advantage at 26-15, which they extended to 33-15 after scoring what would amount to 11 unanswered points. GCU carried a 37-23 lead into the locker room, led by Larson's 13 points and eight rebounds. Adams added eight points, while Davis pulled down seven rebounds in the first half.

The 'Lopes shot 48.0 percent from the field (12-for-25) in the first 20 minutes, while holding the Mustangs to a 26.9 percent mark (7-for-26) on their end of the floor.

GCU's defense held Western New Mexico scoreless for nearly four minutes to open the second half while scoring nine points of their own to build their lead to 48-23. The Mustangs were able to score only seven points in the first 10 minutes of the half and were limited to just 18 in the final 20 minutes of the game.

The 'Lopes scored a season-best 54 points in the second half, as they have now scored more points in the final 20 minutes in each of their three games.

GCU will next head to Salt Lake City, Utah for the Global Sports Hoops Showcase hosted by the University of Utah. The 'Lopes will play three games, beginning with a 7:30 p.m. matchup against the Utes on Thursday, Nov. 21. The game can be heard live in Phoenix on The Patriot 960 AM or online at www.960thepatriot.com.

"I can get used to winning," said Majerle. "I'm proud of the guys, but it is going to get a lot tougher with the tournament in Utah. These past few games have been a learning process for us, and tonight was a great win."

GCU 91, WNMU 41